Page 43 - Plastics News Issue May 2025
P. 43
FEATURE NEWS
Plant-based coatings for
plastics: a sustainable step forward
play a vital role in the future of plastic produc-
tion.
What are plant-based coatings and how do
they work?
Plant-based coatings are natural substances ap-
plied to plastic surfaces to improve their barrier
properties, biodegradability, or aesthetic appeal.
These coatings typically come from agricultural
hese natural coatings enhance the per- by-products or plant-derived polymers.
formance of plastics while reducing their
Tenvironmental footprint, offering a practi- Examples include starches from maize or po-
cal path toward greener packaging. tatoes, cellulose from wood pulp, and proteins
from soy or wheat gluten. Rather than altering
While biodegradable plastics and recycling tech- the core structure of the plastic, these coatings
nologies have received widespread attention, a act as a skin—enhancing features such as mois-
quieter revolution is taking place in the form of ture resistance, UV protection, or even antimi-
plant-based coatings for plastics. crobial qualities.
These innovative coatings offer a promising way One of the main advantages of plant-based
to reduce the environmental impact of plastics coatings lies in their versatility. For instance, a
without sacrificing their versatility or perfor- thin layer of chitosan—a polysaccharide derived
mance. from crustacean shells and fungi—can be applied
to food packaging to prevent bacterial growth,
At the intersection of materials science and en- reducing spoilage and waste.
vironmental responsibility, plant-based coatings
are emerging as a viable means to create more Starch-based coatings, on the other hand, are
eco-friendly plastic products. widely used in agricultural films and mulch films,
where biodegradability is paramount.
Derived from renewable resources like starch,
cellulose, chitosan, and plant oils, these coatings Many coatings are designed to be compatible
are designed to enhance plastic functionality with industrial composting systems, enabling the
while improving its sustainability profile. plastic material to break down more easily after
use.
As industry and consumers alike lean towards
greener solutions, this technology is poised to In some cases, they can even render certain pe-
May 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 43
